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So here is day 22! I have so enjoyed this journey - I've learned more about climate solutions, and we've opened a few doors at our little elementary school to continue this work! Many thanks to the good people at Ecochallenge.org!! And many thanks to the Chambers Ecochallenge team <3

My vision of a sustainable community includes a lot less 'screen time', more time spent working and playing together, less time indoors, more time outdoors. In a sustainable community, we are more supportive of each other, we know each other just a little better. This way, we will build the connections and the political will needed to make all the changes we need to make in our energy sources, our transportation means, our land use, our diet, and our waste management. This is much easier to write than to make real.

My diet impacts deforestation because I consume these top four contributing foods: palm oil, coffee, chocolate, and meat/dairy/eggs (soy crops grown for animal feed). I have learned that looking for the little green 'Rainforest Alliance Certification' frog on the chocolate and coffee labels helps reduce this impact. Palm oil can be avoided by avoiding most processed foods (the stuff that's not great for us anyway). And reducing meat/dairy/eggs - well, the process is underway! There are more foods and recipes available all the time that support the switch to a plant-based diet.

Researching sources of financial help for retrofitting was not too fruitful in this 20 minutes! So far, in our area, I have found that Central Hudson helps out with financing and rebates of $600-$1000 depending on certain qualifications. But they are working to help you stay with their services (electric and natural gas). There looks to be some nice programs for lower income homeowners and renters through RUPCO. Keeping an eye out for other incentives....

CNN has posted a Drawdown Solutions quiz - check it out - how much do I know about the top 100 solutions to climate change? https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/04/specials/climate-change-solutions-quiz/?fbclid=IwAR2omZyrweSKKVVYHK7Cj5t5VM1CuTnD2mCGy_hN7Sbct1_Rrc6a75eGjN4

Knowing more about best by, used by and expiry dates gives me more confidence in using those foods on or over the borderline. This article provides ideas & inspiration: http://stopwastingfoodmovement.org/food-waste/

Only 1% of financial aid given to low-income regions is devoted to family planning, apparently because of controversy. Yet studies have shown that many women in these regions want access to birth control. Studies also show that educated women have fewer, healthier children, are able to make more money, and are more likely to contribute to the health of their communities. Regions of Iran & India have implemented successful programs that offer family planning to low-income communities. This climate solution is also a big win for women, families & communities in these regions.

There are women who participate in local government, however most of those in leading roles are men. Parenting expectations likely play a role - women continue to bear the larger proportion of the 'mental load' of parenting, if not the larger share of the physical work too. Language in our minority populations seems to be a barrier to participation and access to resources for some women.

I stopped by Seed Song Farm today, and saw a familiar face - a Chambers student at their Spring Break Farm Camp. The good folks at Seed Song donated prizes to our school's Earth Month Challenge. It's so great to have their support. Looks like we'll be getting to know them a little better this summer, as we signed up for a CSA, including 14 work hours. Has anyone on the team ever joined a CSA in the area? Or have a vegetable garden at home?

That's great, Val! Yes! I used to belong to a CSA in New Paltz. We'll be looking into a share at Seed Song! My sister owns/runs a 400+ member organic vegetable CSA in Hadley, Mass (Northampton/Amherst area)...just visited the farm this past weekend. We do grow some veggies here...lots of weeds too. :)

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